Page 91 of Ruthless Desires: Vol. One

Did Wren ask the guys to bring me here? Is she going to tell me she wants nothing to do with me?

You’d deserve it if she did.

The thought makes my heart ache. Minus the months of silently pining after her and doing my best to make meaningful conversation at the coffee shop, she’s only been in my life for three days. Yet it feels like it’s been so much longer.

There’s something about the way she fits with us that’s just…right.It’s the same way I’ve always felt about Oliver and Rhett.

I wipe my sweaty palms on my jeans before knocking on Wren’s door. Within seconds, it’s swinging open, and I’m looking down at the woman who none of us can seem to get enough of.

…Except the energy and sass that sparked in her eyes all weekend is gone, replaced by exhaustion.

Still, she perks up slightly when she meets my gaze, and it eases the tension in my chest some.

“Elliot.” She pulls me into a hug, kissing my cheek as she does.

“Hi.” The word comes out too tense.

When she pulls away, she strokes my cheek, frowning. “You don’t look too good. Do you need to sit down? Or maybe drink some water?”

I need to not lose you.

“I’m okay.” Then I look her up and down. “I mean this in the kindest way possible, but you don’t look too good, either.”

She laughs, turning and heading further into her apartment. “At least I have an excuse.”

Fuck.Fuck.Am I the reason?

“I’m sorry,” I blurt, stepping in and shutting the door behind me. “I…Things shouldn’t’ve—uh. I never should’ve said what I said. Never should’ve thought it.”

Jesus Christ.Where are all the communication skills I’ve learned over the past twenty-eight years of my life? Gone, apparently.

She turns, giving me a quizzical look. “What?”

“I didn’t want to make you miserable.”

She brings a hand up to her mouth to stifle a giggle. “Elliot. This isn’t because of what happened yesterday evening.”

“Oh.” I breathe a sigh of relief.

“I guess I figured Rhett would’ve told you. I got my period last night, and the first couple days are always miserable.”

Ah.So that’s why Rhett was acting awkward this morning when Oliver asked how she was doing.

“AndI talked to my mom after work,” Wren continues, “which was terrible. She harassed me about Adam and told me I made a huge mistake by breaking up with him, and then she went on about how I need to start popping out babies, and it made me realize that I let Adam tell me how to live my life instead of sticking with my original plans, which were really fucking cool, actually, and now I’m just pissed at myself, and I don’t even know if Iwantkids anymore, or any of the stuff I decided I wanted because I was with Adam, and—” Her eyes widen, and she stops.

I raise an eyebrow, waiting for her to go on, but she buries her face in her hands.

“Why do I keep dumping all of my shit on you?” she groans.

I step closer to her, but then I pause.

What if she doesn’t want you to touch her?

“I don’t mind listening,” I say gently. “It sounds like you have a lot on your mind.”

Friday night, she did something similar, talking about how Adam made her feel like she didn’t matter to him. It broke my heart then—the thought of her not feeling like she was enough. And now? Well, I’m ready to follow in Rhett’s footsteps and pay Adam another visit.

“I don’t really want to think about it right now,” Wren says. She wraps her arms around herself, rocking back on her heels. “Um. Did you eat dinner?”